Fall is time to give roses a minor pruning

A few days of weather feeling like fall and roses have shown their approval and are coming alive with the promise of a fine show (or two) before the end of the year.

If you have been participating in my prescribed practice of allowing your roses to have a summer rest, it is now time to do a minor pruning. This should be done now to expect two more bloom cycles (as long as cold temperatures hold off until after Christmas). Remember that this is a light pruning. Remove the many small, branching, cane ends back to the main cane, pruning down to an outward facing bud (found at the base of a leaf where it joins the cane).

To give you an idea of what I mean by a “light” pruning, see the photo accompanying this article.

On the left is a cane that shows evidence of several bloom cycles, small cane on small cane. (Also notice if you can the very dead 3/4” black stub in the center of the spray – that poorly-made cut is what allowed the side buds to shoot out).

On the right you see the same spray pruned as I am suggesting above. Notice that it’s been reduced to three generally equal canes; each cane is thick enough to support additional blooming shoots. Also notice that I’ve left plenty of nodes with buds on each branch.

After you’ve done this pruning, you’ll find it easier to apply the needed fertilizer, but remember to run an irrigation cycle before applying fertilizer.

I suggest applying a fertilizer high in Nitrogen and Phosphate (that is, the first two numbers on the fertilizer label). A good balance would be 8-8-4 or something similar. I recommend an organic type. Organics are usually slower acting when the weather (and soil) is cool. You’re in luck this time of year because warm soil activates the breakdown of the fertilizer into readily available nutrients. Organics don’t usually use the NPK number so you may have to read about the label to determine the balance of nutrients, or rely on the company employee if you go to a specialty store.

If you use a fertilizer that is first dissolved in water, apply it right over the bush from top to bottom. A hybrid tea would need about two gallons of solution and should be watered in after a couple of days. If you use a dry granular product, be sure to scratch it into the soil surface around the base of the plant, and then water it in. Apply in the concentration recommended on label; if growing in pots, use half the recommended amount, but apply it more frequently. Repeat applications every two weeks.

Check your irrigation system to make sure all plants are receiving sufficient water.

Interested in a day outing? Take a picnic basket and visit Rose Haven Heritage Garden, 30592 Jedediah Smith Road, Temecula (cross street is Cabrillo Avenue).